Glaucoma Disease Glossary
Navigating a diagnosis of an age-related disease can be overwhelming, especially with all the new medical terms involved. Whether you're preparing for a doctor’s visit or simply want to better understand a glaucoma diagnosis, this glossary serves as a quick reference to help you define and understand commonly used terms.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
A form of glaucoma that occurs suddenly when the flow of aqueous humor between the iris and the lens is blocked. This rare medical emergency must be treated immediately or blindness could result in a day or two.
Angle-closure glaucoma
The second most common type of glaucoma. A largely inherited disorder caused by a narrow angle in the passageway where aqueous fluid would normally flow.
Anterior chamber
The region of the eye between the cornea and the lens that contains aqueous humor.
Aqueous humor
The clear fluid produced in the front of the eye. It provides nutrition to the eye and maintains the eye in a pressurized state.
Bruch’s membrane
Located in the retina between the choroid and the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) layer; provides support to the retina and functions as the ‘basement’ membrane of the RPE layer.
Choroid
Layer of the eye behind the retina; contains blood vessels that nourish the retina.